Rehearsals are very fun, very informal, and very helpful. Having a wedding rehearsal is completely up to you and depends on the size of your bridal party, location, and your general comfort level. I have performed many weddings with and without rehearsals. I am happy to report that they have all been successful.

If you do decide to move ahead with a rehearsal, here is a guide to how we'll proceed:

We'll start in the middle.

We'll have the entire wedding party stand where they will during the ceremony. We'll let parents and grandparents (if they are in attendance), flower girls and ring bearers know where they'll be sitting or standing.

We'll walk through the ceremony.

We'll do a run through of the wedding. I will read through the ceremony headings aloud so everyone knows the order of the ceremony - Welcome to guests, charge to the couple, vows, ring exchange, etc.

We'll make sure readers and musical guests know when to begin and where to stand. (Some of these decisions are made at the rehearsal, so please make sure everyone involved is attending.)

We'll work through blocking to make sure that even if you are moving around (for a unity ceremony or presenting your daughter with a necklace) that you'll never have your backs to your guests and you'll be confident of how your ceremony will flow.

We'll move to the recessional.

We will practice walking out - the recessional. We will discuss space and rhythm.

Now that everyone knows where they'll be standing, we will practice the processional. We will have a diagram showing everyone's line up order. We will enter the ceremony and everyone will stand where they've already practiced.

The hand-off. This is the last item to practice. We will discuss your preferences way before the ceremony is written. You may want the question asked of who gives their blessing to this marriage, who brings this person to be married, or who are the families joining together in marriage this day, or maybe you'd like nothing said. Either way, we'll find what feels right for you. There will be handshakes, hugs, kisses, and sometimes an occasional chest bump. This is a very touching part of the ceremony.

The hand-off. The other hand-off. Traditionally, brides will hand their bouquets to their primary attendant, a Maid of Honor, Matron of Honor, or Best Man. If needed, this attendant may hand off both sets of flowers to the next attendant while she or he adjusts the bride's train, if necessary.

We'll do it again.

Now that everyone's in place, we'll practice walking back out and back in one more time to make sure everyone knows what to do.

​I will create a Rehearsal Guide that will indicate everyone's standing position for the ceremony as well as a line up guide. In the event a wedding planner is present, I will offer insight and guidance, however, defer respectfully to the wedding planner's leadership. If you do not have a wedding planner, it is a good idea to have a friend attend the rehearsal who will help the bridal party with the timing of their entrances on the big day.